Kenny Dorham's soft, energetic, be-bop style and confident, smooth
lyrical playing has influenced countless musicians. One of the great trumpet
pioneers of the bebop era, Kenny had the misfortune to play beneath the shadows
cast by Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown and Miles Davis. He worked with
most of the giants of the music in the '40s and '50s, and continued to lead his
own groups through the 60s. Many of his compositions have become jazz standards
(Blue Bossa, Prince Albert, Lotus Blossom, Una Mas, Whistle Stop). He used to
"ghost" many of his charts, which were published under the name of Walter "Gil"
Fuller.

Kenny was born into a musical family on August 30th, 1924 in Fairfield, Texas.
At age 7, he began piano lessons, switching to trumpet while attending high
school in Austin. His debut on the trumpet was with a dance band at Wiley
College, where he studied pharmacy.

In 1942, he joined the army, becoming a member of their boxing team and in
1943, began working with trumpeter, Russell Jacquet, “Illinois” Jacquet’s older
brother. He later moved to New York City, playing and singing with Dizzy
Gillespie's band, as well as other groups, including Billy Eckstine, Lionel
Hampton, and Mercer Ellington. He earned the nickname “Quiet Kenny” due to his
quiet, subdued sound, replacing Miles Davis in Charlie Parker’s group from 1948
to 1950.

In the early 50s, Kenny began playing in New York City, recording with
Thelonious Monk in ’52, and became a founding member of the Jazz Messengers
with Art Blakey and Horace Silver. He later replaced Clifford Brown in the Max
Roach/Clifford Brown Quintet when Clifford was killed in an automobile
accident. Dorham would occasionally lead his own groups, giving early exposure
to such younger men as Bobby Timmons, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Charles
Davis, Kenny Burrell, Butch Warren and Tony Williams.

He was very active in the late 50s and 60s, teaching at Lennox School of Jazz,
leading and touring with his own groups, co-leading groups with Joe Henderson
and Hank Mobley, and recording with Barry Harris, Cedar Walton, Jackie McLean,
Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus, and Sonny Rollins. During that time, Kenny
recorded an impressive series of LP's under his own name for Blue Note. His
best recordings include Whistle Stop and Una Mas for Blue Note and Jazz
Contemporary for Time. He was also a thoughtful reviewer for Downbeat Magazine,
and attended college at NYU School of Music, teaching at the school before he
died of kidney failure on December 5th, 1972.